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Almond Date Confections Recipe

For our first Christmas together, I made these fast candies for my then-boyfriend. He has begged me for them every holiday since...and we've been married for more than 10 years! —Katherine Job, Carmel, Indiana

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 25 min. + chillingYIELD:18 servings

Ingredients

1 tube (7 ounces) almond paste

3/4 cup confectioners' sugar

1 teaspoon almond extract

1/4 to 1 teaspoon water, optional

18 pitted dates, halved

1-1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Flaked coconut or finely chopped almonds, toasted

Directions

1.In a bowl, combine the almond paste, confectioners' sugar and extract. Knead until mixture forms a ball, adding water if mixture is too crumbly. Cut dates in half widthwise. Wrap about 1-1/2 teaspoons of almond mixture around each date half and roll into a ball.

2. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips; stir until smooth. Dip balls in chocolate, then roll in coconut or almonds. Place on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate until chocolate is set, about 30 minutes. Store in a covered container at room temperature.
Yield: 3 dozen.